Supporting clip fob conduits



Dec. 24, 1946. E. M. Mom-:HOUSE Re 22,824

SUFPORTING CLIP FOR CONDUITS originalA Fileduov. z', 1942 Rcssued Dec. 24,!1946 s f f Re. 22,824

snrroa'rmc canv Fon coNDUrrs Eugene M. Morehouse, Burbank, Calif., assigner` to Adel Precision Products Corp., a corporation of California original No. 2,338,006, ma hmmm- 2s 1s43.

sel-m No. 464,216. November z. 1942. Application Vfor reissue lFebruary This invention relates to conduit supporting `clips of the type used in aircraft as shown in` United States Letters Patent No. 2,215,283 issued to Pau1 w.Ad1er on september 17,1940, wherein the clip provides a cushioned, vibration-'absorbing, seat and an electrical bond for a conduit line to protect the line from wear and damageand prevent accumulations of static electricity there- A primary object ofthe present `invention is to provide a conduit clip of the character described which is designed to facilitate sub-assembly installations wherein a conduit line before installation has a plurality .of clips clamped thereon at the proper spaced intervals and is then installed by securing the clips to structural parts of the aircraft.

Another object is to provide a clip such as de` scribed which is provided withl a clasp for holding the clip `in proper position on a structural part of the aircraft to -permit of a readyand easy securing of the clip to such part, either before or after the clip is mounted on the conduit line, thereby making it unnecessary for the operator to hold the clip in place while the operation of nally securing the clip to such part or to the conduit or both is being carried out.

Another object o1.' this invention is to provide a clip of the character described which is provided with clasp or catch means whereby after the clip is mounted on the conduit or the conduit is placed in the clip and' it is necessary to bring the apertured ends of the clip together and to hold them in close relation in order to insert a` bolt or screw for clamping the clip on the conduit, it is possible to quickly and easily lock said ends in close relationwith said latch means and the operator is not then required to hold said ends together during the clampingof the clip or the conduit as well as during the operation of fastening the clip to a structural part of the aircraft.

Another object is to provide a. clip -such as de scribed wherein latch means on the metal strap thereof serves purposes of holding the clip at the desired point on the conduit line before the clip is finally clamped thereon, and holding the ends of the strap in position to effect the clamping of the clip on the line and the fastening. thereof to the airplane structural par't.

A further object is to provide a clip such as described which is provided with a nut held thereon in proper position to receive the bolt or screw employed to clamp the clip on the conduit and secure it to the aircraft. thereby making it un- 55 in Fig. 2, With the ends thus held, the clip is l8 Claims. (Cl. 24S- 'I4) 23, 1944, Serial No.

2 necessary for the operator to hold the nut in place during the installation of the clip. Y

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the 'my invention and shown as when temporarily accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clip embodying mounted on a support and fully open to receive a conduit; y

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the clip with the conduit therein and the ends held by the latch in position to be forced together to properly clamp the clip on the conduit as well as secure the clip to a support;

Fig. 3-is a vertical sectional view of the clip as when finally installed;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention as to the location of the claspv and latch:

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional viewfof the clip shown in Fig. 5:

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary elevational view of the clip shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to show how the nut is carried thereby.

Referring to the drawing more specifically, it

is seen that a clip embodying the present invention includes a conduit-embracing strapl 8 of resilient or 'somewhat resilient metal, having opposed apertured and outwardly extended ends 9 which are normally well spaced apart as shown in Fig. 1 to open the strap and permit of themounting of the clip on conduit l0 or vice versa.

As here shown the strap 8 is lined with a cushion Il of compressible'zelastic and insulation material such as rubber. synthetic rubber or simi,- lar cushioning material, to serve as a vibrationabsorbing seat for the conduit.

A metallic bonding strip I2 is mounted on the cushion 20 so as to be held in contact with the strapand the conduit whereby when the strap is fastened to a metallic structural part of an alrcraft such as the part I3 here shown, by means of a bolt I4 and a nut/ I5, the conduit line will be "grcunded to said structural part, in a manner e and for the purpose well known in this art.

In accordance with my invention a latch or lock means is provided on the strap for holding the ends 9 in close relation to one another as shown maintained in the desired position on the conduit either before or after the clip is mounted on the airplane structural part I), thereby making possible an expeditious sub-assembly of clips and a conduit line as well as maintaining the ends I in position to easily complete the installation of the clip. This lock means is designed so that when the operator forces the ends I from their normally well spaced apart position shown in Fig. 1, to'

a position in which they' are in substantially par- ,allel and somewhat spaced relation with their apertures I8 aligned, they will be automatically latched together and held against springing apart but may be readily forced closer together.

e As here provided the latch or lock means com- 4 f l'lgs. 1 to 4 inclusive, but provides the hook memprises a hook member II on one of the ends 9, for example, the end that is to be contacted with the structural part I3, amused to hook around` an edge of the opposite 'end 9 as shown in Fig. 2. 'I'o facilitate the locking action the end lwhich is engaged by the hook I1 is provided with an outwardly -extending lug I8 adapted to be embraced by the hook I'I, as shown in Fig. 2. 'I'his lug acts as a cam against the end of the hook I'I as the ends I are brought into position shown in Fig. 2', and causes the lug and hook to move ment.

As here provided the hook I1 is struck out from one leg Il of a U-shaped clasp 2li which leg is formed integral with and extends laterally from one longitudinal edge of one of the ends l. The

lug Il is formed on the corresponding edge of the other leg 9. f

The U-shaped clasp has its other leg 2| substantially equal in length to the width of the end 9 plus the length of leg I9, this end 9 being in fact, a part 'of the leg I9 whereby there is provided a clasp capable of holding the clip in place on thestruetural part without extraneous fastenings, until the clip is finally bolted in place.

In order to make it unnecessary for the operator to hold a nut in place when installing the clip, the nut I5 is fixed on the leg 2| of the clasp so that the opening in the nut is registered with an opening 22 in the said leg. As shown in Figs. 3 anda the nut I6 is of the sheet metal type clipped around the le`g 2| and provided with in-` dented end portions 23 extended into the opening 22 to hold the nut with its two opposed spring same time secure the clip on the member Il as` shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

It is now seen that my improved clip by reason of the latch or lock means for holding the ends of the strap in a predetermined position and for temporarily holding the clip in the desired position on a conduit will simplify and render easier the installation of the clips and conduits, particularly in sub-assembly installations.

'I'he modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 -includes a strap 2B, cushion 21,

bonding strip 28 and apertured end portions 29 and lll of the same construction and arrangement as in the ilrst described form shown in past one another and snap into hooked engageto clamp the strap on the ber Il on the outer end of the'end portion 3l instead ot on the side thereof. This hook is struck out from a U-shaped clasp I2 formed by bending back thestrap to form a leg I2 opposite the end portion III or the strap. The clasp I2 is adapted to be mounted on the support I2 in the suine manner as in the other form of the invention. The hook Il is adapted to hook over the end edge of t'he end portion 2l of the strap as shown in Fig. 5. 'I'his form is subject to the same uses and installation operations as'the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and diifers only as to the location of the hook and clasp.

While I have shown'and described speciilc embodiments of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and

together to clamp the strap on the conduit, latch means operating when said ends are brought into a predetermined position adjacent one another to hold said ends against movement away from one another, said ends having apertures therein for reception of a bolt, a nut.' and means on the strap for holding'said nut with its opening aligned with the apertures in said ends while the latter are held adjacent one another by said latch means.

2. In a clip for supporting a conduit-embracing strap spaced apart to permit of to a conduit and adapted a conduit in aircraft, having ends normally application of the clip to be-brought together conduit, a hook member on one of said ends adapted to be brought into hooked engagement i with the other of said ends to hold said ends close to one another for application thereto of a fastening member which is applied to force said ends together and clamp the strap on the conduit, a

clasp member on one of said ends for embracing a structural member to support the strap thereon and having an apertured end in opposed spaced relation` to one end of the strap, and a fastening means including a fastening member inserted through said ends of the strap and the apertured end of said clasp member and operable for securing said member to a support as well as for clamping the strap around a conduit.v

3. In a clip for supporting a conduit in aircraft, a conduit-embracing strap havingv ends normally spaced apart to permit of application of the clip to a conduit and adapted to be broughtl together to clamp the strap on the conduit, a hook member on one of said ends projecting toward and adapted to be brought into hooked engagement with the other of said ends to hold said 4. In a clip for supporting a conduit in airprojecting toward andsacas back portion and adapted to hook onto theother oi said ends when the ends are brought into a predetermined closely spaced position, to hold said ends against springing apart.

5. In a clip for supporting a conduit in air craft, 4a resilient metaLconduit-embracing strap having ends normally spaced apart to permit o! application of the clip to a conduit and adapted to be brought together to clamp the strap on the conduit, and a hook formed integral with one 'oi' said ends and disposed tc be brought into hooked engagement with the other end to hold said ends from springing apart when they are brought into a predetermined closely spaced position, one of said ends being ben't back to dene a U-shaped clasp, said clasp being adapted to be clasped on a structural part of thealrcraft to hold the clip thereon, said hook being struck from said bent' back portion at the juncture thereof with the said one end.

6. In a clip for supporting an object, a resilient metal object-embracing strap having ends normally spaced apart to permit of application of the clip to the object to be supported thereby and adapted to be brought together to clamp the strap on the object, a hook formed integral with a side edge of one of said ends and extending to-` ward the other of said ends. a lip on the correy spending side edge of the other of said ends arranged to .be snapped into hooked engagement with said hook when said ends having apertures spaced from their edges are moved together, and portions on said endsheld by said hook and lip with their apertures in alignment for reception oi a fastening. Y

7. In a clip for supporting an object, a resilient metal object-embracing strap having ends normally spaced apart to permit application of the clip to the object to be supported thereby and adapted to be brought together to clamp the vstrap on the object, a hook on one of said ends,

and a lip on the other of said ends arranged to snap into hooked engagement with said hook when said ends are brought into closely opposed relation to one another, said ends having apertures therein spaced from their edges which are held in registration with one a'nother for reception of a fastening while said ends are held together by means of said hook and said lip.

8. A clamp adapted to be assembled about va. bundle of wires prior to attachment thereof to a support, comprising a loop of spring metal having at the ends thereof substantially parallel portions,

one of said parallel portions having a turnedover part in the shape of a hook, and the otherl of said parallel portions having a lip thereon for coasting with the hook, whereby direct pressure applied to said second-named end in a direction for tlttlng the loop to a bundle of wires causes the lip to snap into engagement with the hook, and said ends having registering openings therein for receiving fastening means.

EUGENE M. MoaEHoUsa 

